Coin-chute.



G. A. LONG.

COIN GHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE21,1913.

racy;

' vention.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. LONG, or HARTFORD, CoNNECTIcUT, ASSIGNOR To THE GRAY TELEPHONEPAY STATION COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, a CORPORITTON or CON-NECTICU COIN-CHUTE.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

Application filed June 21, 1918. Serial 110. 774,987.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. LONG, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Coin- Chutes, of which the following is a specification.I

This invention relates to coin chutes.

A coin chute involving my invention can be used in various connections,although it is of particular utility when inoorporatedin a telephone paystation.

One of the primary purposes of the invention is the provision of simpleand effective means by which the choking or clogging of a chute by coinsor tokens of irregular contour or unusual shape is prevented.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of the presentspecification I have shown in detail one of the several convenient formsof embodiment of the invention which to enable those skilled in the artto practisethe same will be set forth fully in the followingdescription. I do not limit myself to this disclosure; I ma departtherefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention definedby the claims following said description.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a chuteinvolving my inseen from the front, the major part of thechute being invertical section. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of an intermediate portionof the chute, showing a token therein. Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sectionson the lines 55 and 6-6 respectively of Fig. 1, the arrows on thesection lines indicating the direction of view. Fig. 7 is a transversesection on the line 77 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

As I have already observed a coin chute involving my invention, can beemployed advantageously in connection with various kinds of coincontrolled or vending machines, although it is of especial merit wh'enembodied in a telephone pay station. In Letters Patent No. 912,389granted to me February 16, 1909 is shown a compound chute such as Iemploy in pay stations now Fig. 2 is a view of said chute as on themarket. This compound chute involves three chutes one intended fornickels, another for dimes, and the third for quarters. The chuteshownin the drawings may be that provided for the passage of half dimes.As a matter of fact the present machlne is adapted especially for use inCanada where the half dime or five-cent piece is a coin very thin .andof small diameter. As will be evident the chute can be of such size toreceive any kind of coin or token. In Canada there has been current asmall token or medal such as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of thedrawings, which in diameter and thickness, is about the size of aCanadian half dime or five-cent piece, and it has been a common thing inthe Dominion to have persons insert such a medal or token in thefive-cent slot of a pay station. This token or medal. in descending thefive-cent chute has been wedged therein. With such a token choking thechute, it is impossible to pass proper coins therethrough to operate aSi nal or to effect some other end, in whic 'event the machine becomespractically useless and has to be taken remedy the ditficulty.

With the foregoing general Observations I will now describe more indetail what is illustrated in the drawings, it being clear that I do notrestrict m self to such disclosure as the same is mere y one way ofsecuring the objects in view.

I have denoted the chute in a general way by 2, and itcomprises a lowerp rtion' 3 and an upper inclined portion 4. The chute is awayand apartto made up of a channeled body member 5 anda facing or closing member as6, the latter having parallel beads 7 as shown in my Patent 1,061,093 ofMay 6, 1913 to which reference may be had. The chute 2 has a slot 9formed as shown in the body section thereof, said slot serving as a trapand being shown in both of the aforementioned atents and many othersgranted to me. T rough said trap or slot 9 are projected coins ofimproper size after the common practice.

I have shown in dotted and full lines in Fig. 3 and in full lines inFig. 4 a token 10 with which considerable trouble has been had inCanada. This device is about the same diameter as a Canadian five-centpiece, and it has a peripheral perforated projection so that it can beworn as a pendent. Such a token, owing to its shape becomes frelib Slaperm tt n th t yibleek d ii. lithe pr. 7

reason of the fact that it cannot roll therein, provide, for therollingofsuch a token, or in fact'onetlofi'any othercharacter, wherein onediameter" isgreater than the other, the increase of diameter in thetoken 10 in one direction with respect to the other being due to, theperiphergal projection to which I have alluded?" The chute 2, preferablyin the upper inclinedapart thereof has a relief portion which ,can beproduced in various zwaysqasby naking said chute at such lace vwider;ftha1.1 1;. the remainder of said chute, f or instance byslotting thelatter as atl1 toprovidefor the rolling of said token ldlor oneof a,practically, isimilar nature algng thecliutasaid slot. ll heing formedin the-presentcasesbyjeuttingoutone of the upper side walls, 5 (the,lefl; zone in Figs. 1, 3 an l'a igt'h {member 7 said token to; rolluntil such point as; it passes from upper inclined portion 4of the chuteinto the lower vertical part 3 thereof in which, case if the periphral pj token ,be not trapped out ofi the slot 9, said token can descend-through the vertical part 3.- ,As shown,v the for ward or; lower end ofthe slot-11 is closedto prevent coins from iumpi go i o t-s id t .Oto inthis eyentvthe token wouldlstrike the edge of the bell;disposedatatheldischargge end of the chute 13, but preferablethat the signal bejsoundedstharr thei token ehoke or clog the Chute.- There-maybe timeswhen the token 10 will pass. entirely out' the (trap or slot 9.

It ii poss lelsol h t he ak n y be p jected partly out of the ,trap -asshown in Fig; 6 and will rolLdow-nuntil it strikes the lowergwall of}said-trap,v in which event it would stop at point zand gblock the chute.

I providerneansfnow to be described to guard ga s at i ,c nti s cye IThe trap 9 is of 'btuse, angular form, extending-partially alongthegc-hute portion 4 iv-. and partially along thechute portion 3, At

th ve e d t hegshtns'trar 9 there are two outwardly extending, notches12 shown as transversely,alined, the width of each of which i s greaterthan th ar neter of the cut chutes by ection of thetoken-be up and ifthe having a notch peripheral projection to I liave referred. It will beassumed that a token such as that illustrated has been partially trappedthrough the slot9 as shown in Fig; 6. "It will descend the chute with arolling motion and will strike the lower wall of'theslot 9.

When this occurs the token will be. ro-.

tated and as it turns the peripheral. projec: tion will pass through oneor theother of the two notches 12 as soon as it registers therewith sothat the token can then pass into the lower portion of the chute, tofacilitate which action said chute is deepened as at 13 below the trap,this deepening being obtained by expandin the forward or front wall ofsaid chute. lBy this deepening of the chute, by bulging for instance,the token can be projected across the lower wall or edge of the slot 9.

What I claim is:

1. A chute having an inclined portion, the

upper wall of the chute in said inclined portion, having an elongatedslot to receive a projection on a check rolling along said chute, thelower end of the slot being closed.

2. A coin-chute having a slot, constituting a trap, and having twotransversely alined notches extending outwardly therefrom.

'3. A coin chute having a slot in its side constituting a trap, thelower end of the slot being closed and the wall of the slot extendingoutwardly therefrom approximately at said lower closed end.

4. A coin-chute having a longitudinally extending slot, constituting atrap, the lower end of the slot having a pair of outwardly extendingnotches and the chutebeing deepened below the lower wall of the slot.

5. A coin chute having an elongated slot constituting a trap, the lowerend of the slot having two outwardly extending notches and the chuteslot being bulged outwardly.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. LONG.

below the lower wall of the.

